Hey, you Scripture memory fiends! I am so proud of you guys for keeping your numbers up with your second verses! There can be a really big drop out between the hype surrounding the first verse and the discipline that starts kicking in with the second verse. Stay at it, you guys. Not one of you will be sorry you did. No one is going to get to the finish line next December 15th and say it wasn’t worth the work. God is far more faithful than that. He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6) and diligently uses His Word to equip us in our callings (2 Timothy 3:16-17). He uses His Word to make us wiser, more aware of His will, more fortified against temptation, and more alive in His Spirit. He uses His Word to make us less gullible when our hearts are trying to deceive us, when someone we love is trying to mislead us or when Satan himself is trying to seduce us. Be encouraged. Not one ounce of your effort is wasted.
Here is the biggest key to accomplishing this task: throughout the entire process, continually ask God to enable you to memorize. In John 14:26, Christ tells His followers that the Holy Spirit is the one who will “bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Proactively taking Him up on this assurance has been strategic through the years I’ve memorized Scripture. Over and over I convey to God that I know only He can empower those inspired words on the page to find a permanent place in my memory and a home in the marrow of my bones. I call upon His Spirit in Jesus’ Name to stir up those verses in me and remind me of every word and phrase.
When you’re able to say your verse with any accuracy at all, start thanking Him. Do it right then. Completely engage in the relational side of your memory work. That will be by far the biggest success in this endeavor. God is after your heart, not just your mind. He’s not just looking for your discipline. He wants to be your desire. His aim is relationship. Ask Him to help you then thank Him when He does it. When you’re working on a beautiful verse, tell Him you think it’s beautiful. When you keep stumbling over one particular word, ask Him right then to help you get that phrase straight. His Word is God speaking to you so speak back. Use it as an invitation to dialogue. Is the verse really hard? Say to Him, “This verse is killing me here, Lord. I can’t seem to get it. Grant it to me. Help me with it.” Get what I’m saying? This way He gets all the glory in every success and we get immeasurable gain.
This I promise you: God’s objective for you and me in 2015 is not for us to memorize 24 verses. It’s for us to draw nearer and nearer to Him, love Him more, know Him more, trust Him more, and believe Him more. To let His Word go down deep where He wants it. To invite it fervently and proactively to abide in us and bring vivacious life to us. To meditate on His words and to prize them more than our daily bread. Job said it this way: “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food.” (Job 23:12b) That’s what these 24 verses are about. So, let’s engage with Jesus throughout the entire process. THAT, at the end of our journey, is what will determine our success.
I think I just changed my mind on what I want to present you for my 3rd verse. I am doing memory work out of the Book of Ephesians right now but I don’t happen to be on a verse that stands alone in a comprehensive enough way to offer it to someone to share. Mentioning Job in the previous paragraph stirred up in my memory how much I love that 23rd chapter. Savor the gorgeousness of verses 8-12. (ESV)
8      “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive Him;
9Â Â Â Â Â Â on the left hand when He is working, I do not behold Him;
He turns to the right hand, but I do not see Him.
10Â Â Â Â Â Â But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11Â Â Â Â Â Â My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12Â Â Â Â Â Â I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
Translation of verses 8-10??? I may not know where God is right now in my situation but of this I’m sure: He knows where I am. Isn’t that powerful? Then, behold the faith and steadfastness of Job in that 10th verse: because God is at work and is at the helm, “I will come forth as gold” (NIV). (If you get a chance, glance at how perfectly that concept corresponds with 1 Peter 1:7.) I believe Job 23:10 is the exact verse I want to choose this time around and I think I’ll use the NIV. So here goes:
Beth Moore, Houston, Texas. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
Hit it, Girls.
So honored to study and memorize Scripture with you. Much, much love to you.
Brandi Hutchings, Littlefield, Texas, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17,ESV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Las Vegas NV
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
—Psalm 105:4
Heather and Camdyn, Frisco, Texas
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything;
tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do
this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human
mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as
you trust in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (The Living Bible)
Robin T. Reading,PA
He has shown you O, man what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV)
Jenni Johnson, Murray, KY
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm‬ â€19‬:â€14‬ ESV
Wendy, Barrie, Ontario: “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 NIV
Melissa Waters, Murfreesboro, TN
” Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”
Ps 55:22
James 1:19 – My dear brothers, take note of this! Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
Amy Works from Camden AR
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Isaiah 26:3 NLT (oops)
Tonya, Pineville, LA. Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:6 NIV)
Linda Hammett, Wake Forest, NC:
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him
must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16 NIV
Brigette Brock
Morehead, Ky
Brandi Ashmore, Huntsville AL
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. (â€Job‬ â€23‬:â€10‬ NIV)
Thanks Beth!! I needed this today!
Laura Harris, Montgomery,
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Kassie Dulin from Southlake, TX
“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.” (â€Job‬ â€23‬:â€10‬ NLT)
Anita Pattison, Kendallville, IN
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.
Philippians 4:6 NLT
Rebecca Stewart Julian, NC “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Marcene Saxman, Watsonville, CA. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light and your God will be your glory. Isaiah 60:19 NIV
Savannah Beard
Cullman, Alabama
“But forget all that-it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.”
Isaiah 43:18 NLT
Kelli Duncan. Columbus, NC. “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 NIV
Charlotte, Hernando,MS. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV
Amanda Drause Nashville, TN ” See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 NIV
Sherri Huff, Mechanicsville, VA. In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 NIV
AnnaMarie Lohr, Pittsburgh PA
“Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” says the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your descendents,” declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land.” Jeremiah 31:16-17 NIV
Pam Sue
Spring, TX
I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. (â€Psalm‬ â€119‬:â€15‬ NIV)
“What no eye has seen,what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived”_the things God has prepared for those who love him_
1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
Dionne, Florida
In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).
Ephesians 3:12 (Amp)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (â€Matthew‬ â€6‬:â€33‬ ESV) – Claire Watson, Dallas TX
Sandee, Los Angeles CA
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may grasp, together with all the saints, to know how wide, and how long, and how high, and how deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
– Ephesians 3:17-18 (NIV)
Sandy Chain Beaumont Tx
Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Isiah 60:20 NIV
Kristen Apache junction Az
Ephesians 3:19 HCSB
and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Joy Billson, Bryant, Ar.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (â€2 Corinthians‬ â€12‬:â€9‬ KJV)
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
â€2 Timothy‬ â€1‬:â€7‬ (NLT)
Susan, Middletown, OH
Exodus 14:13-14 NIV
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today…. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
Psalm 23:1 NLT
Annalee
Morehead, Ky
Katie Nicholks, Tucson, AZ
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. Job 23:10 ESV
Rachel Huff, Mechanicsville, VA. In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 NIV
Susan Miles, Jonesboro, Arkansas
2 Corinthians 9:8 niv
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Tanya Beard-Cullman, AL
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Lori, Toledo
Phil 4:8,9 NET
“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. 9 And what you have learned, and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the peace of God will be with you.”
Tina, New Hope, MN
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Wow! I chose the same verse!!!
Kristin Funston, Memphis, TN “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 NIV
Shauna Knott, River Falls, WI. “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’ ” Psalm 32:8 (NIV)
Jeanette from Coral Springs, FL
“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me; for you are my God and Savior and my hope is in your all day long.” Psalm 24:4 (NIV)
Cathy Hare – Rowlett, TX – “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 NIV
San Diego California
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness through these he has given us his very great and precious promises so that throuu them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world cause my evil desires. 2Peter 1:3-4
Rosa, Cane Ridge, TN. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7
(NKJV)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud. I Corinthians 13:4. NIV